THE CIVIL WAR DIARY OF JOHN G. MORRISON 1861-1865

off towards where our regiment was (it having just came as
we rode through the town). I noticed that the most of the
streets were barricaded across by dry stone walls with
passages left for vehicles and pedestrians but all guarded
by infantry. We rode about [a] mile out on the Winchester
pike and found the regiment just picketing their horses.
We did likewise and commenced pitching our tents in an oak
opening. Started to get something to eat and found that
there was no water to be got nearer than town. After
eating, I had to go on guard to look out for our troops, as
the 25th N.Y. Cavalry was on one side of us and the 162nd.
N.Y. Infantry on the other. It had rained most of the day
until sundown, when an awful cold nor'west came on, making
it impossible to keep warm, although we had huge fires of
oak and black walnut, cords of it at a time.
Nov. 5th, Saturday. Passed an awful miserable night, as it
was too cold to sleep, besides having my eyes almost melted
out with the smoke. Came off guard at 2 P.M. At sundown,
[17] the wind lulled, making it much pleasanter indeed. Turned
in at 8 1/2 P.M. The cavalry and our neighbours, infantry,
left this morning to escort a train to Winchester.
Nov. 6th, Sunday. Turned out long before daylight, it
being so cold, having had a severe frost through the night.
Had a company inspection at 10 A.M. Drizzling rain
through the afternoon.
Nov. 7th, Monday. Turned out at 6 1/2 A.M. Raining still
at 9 A.M. "Boots and saddles" sounded in a hurry as orders
had arrived for the regiment to go to Winchester with a
wagon train. Soon the camp was all animation except us (as
we did not expect to go), but we were ordered to go with
the rest. What a fix we were in - no saddles, and a ride
of 22 miles before us. After considerable running around,
I managed to borrow one from "Arty Wood" in Co. L. At
11.30 A.M., we filed out alongside the train and off we
went through the still falling rain. About 1 P.M., we
passed through Buckletown, which consists of a few
scattering
[18] houses. About two, we came to Bunker Hill, which town is
one heap of ruins, it having been the scene of several
fights during the war. Through the afternoon the rain
stopped and it became quite pleasant. About nightfall, the
rain came down again. About 6 P.M., we halted about one
mile this side of Winchester for the train, to file in off
the road. We then started again. The town must have been
quite stylish before this war, from what I could see of it
as we rode through in the dark. We left it a couple of
miles behind us, I should say, and halted in an orchard
after some trouble. We got our picket rope up and then I
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